Blog

April 28, 2020

Zoom Calls: The Good & The Bad

Given our current situation, what are your thoughts and feelings about Zoom calls? Could some calls just have been an email? Jess connects virtually with Carolyn and Jeff this morning from Global TV’s The Morning Show to further discuss. Check out her notes and video segment below.

The Good:

It takes less time to coordinate, so we’re actually seeing one another more often.

It feels more intimate than a phone call for many of us because of the potential for eye contact, facial expressions, body language, etc.

Research reflects that connection & cooperation is higher on video calls than via phone and chat; trust can be just as high in video chats as face to face although it takes longer to achieve this, so this may explain why it works for existing friendships like Carolyn’s, but may not be as effective for new dates, acquaintances and clients.

The Struggle:

It’s emotionally exhausting to be on video calls all day.

You have to work harder to pick up on non-verbal cues and the incongruity of feeling as though you’re together, but not being physically present can be tiring for some people.

Delays create awkwardness & silence is seen as problematic (when it’s normal and helpful in real life); some people talk just to fill the dead air, so the conversation can feel vacuous.